Electric irons



July 19, 1955 A, BRAC-E 2,713,222

ELECTRIC IRONS Filed Nov, 13. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H gij 3 20 2| INVENTOR. George race July 19, 1955 G. A. BRACE 2,713,222

ELECTRIC IRONS Filed Nov. 15, 195o 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. 6907296 1Q Brace United States Patent Ofce 2,713,222 Patented July 19, 1955 ELECTRIC IRONS George A. Brace, Highland Park, Ill., assigner to The I-Iooovr Company, North Canton, hio, a corporation o io Application November 13, 1950, Serial No. 195,4l2

14 Claims. (Cl. FaS-79) This invention relates to sad irons and more particularly to a novel and unusually simple rest for supporting the bottom thereof above the ironing board when the iron is not being used.

Numerous attempts have been made heretofore to provide automatic as well as semi-automatic and manually operated rests for sad irons to avoid damage to fabrics being ironed when the iron is not being used. These have been unsatisfactory for various reasons. For eX- ample, many are complex and costly to incorporate in an iron. Others are unsightly and include mechanisms exteriorly of the iron which hinder the operator and catch in the material being ironed. Many are inconvenient to operate or involve control members encumbering the operating7 handle of the iron or which conduct heat thereto causing burns to the operator or, at best, discomfort.

The present invention provides an exceedingly simple automatic iron rest which is locked in a collapsed or retracted position at all times and under all operating manipulative movements except when the iron is tilted upwardly beyond a predetermined angle. when the iron is so tilted, the rest automatically extends to an iron supporting position. Retraction and relocking of the rest is accomplished merely by moving the iron forward, Although the rest includes two moving parts, these are held against movement except when moving into or out of the retracted position.

It is therefore a major object of the invention to provide a sad iron with a gravity actuated automatic rest for supporting the sole plate above the ironing surface.

A further object is to provide a gravity actuated rest having two very simple, inexpensive components arranged to occupy a minimum amount of normally unused space beneath the cover shell of an iron.

Another object of my invention is to provide an iron rest which automatically releases the rest for gravity extension when the iron is tilted upwardly beyond a predetermined angle.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a rest which can be collapsed easily and simply as well as one which is normally concealed and locked within the iron in all normal manipulative positions thereof including the carrying position frequently used when ironing.

Various other objects and advantages of my invention will become evident from the following description of two illustrative embodiments taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view, partially in section, of one .embodiment of the invention, and showing the rest retracted position;

Figure 2 is a View showing the rest supporting the iron sole plate out of contact with the ironing surface.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view along line 3 3 on Figure l;

Figure 4 is a side view of a second embodiment with the rest in retracted position; and

Figure 5 is a view showing the same rest in extended position.

The embodiment illustrated in Figures l to 3 is incorporated in a conventional type electric sad iron comprising a cast sole plate 16, having an embedded, resistance heater element 11 arranged in a U-shaped manner near the marginal edge of the plate. Overlying the sole plate is the usual cover shell 12, the rear end of which extends beyond the end of the sole plate, as shown in the drawing. This shell is secured to the sole plate by studs and screws in a well known manner. Overlying and secured to the cover shell, as by screws 16, is operating handle i3, having a front leg 14 and a rear leg 15. A temperature regulator dial 17 is located between the bases of the handle legs and is connected with a thermostat regulator of any desired design, housed within the cover shell and lying in heat exchanged relation with the sole plate.

The service cord is not illustrated, but it will be understood that it may be mounted in the far side of rear handle 15. The inner end of this cord extends downward into the rear end of the cover shell where it is connected in circuit with the heater element and the thermostatic control. Access to the terminals is had by removing detachable cover plate 18 closing the open rear end of the cover shell as clearly shown in Figure 1. The lower, rear corner of this cover plate is preferably located somewhat above the lower face of the sole plate.

The automatic rest comprises a strut member 2i) stamped from sheet stock. This rest is located preferably in an opening 2l along the longitudinal center line of the iron. Rest 2li is rotatably mounted on a pivot pin 22 secured to the opposite sides of slot 21 in any suitable manner as by peening over tabs 23 on the sole plate. The forward lighter end 24 of the strut has an upwardly and rearwardly inclined surface 25 for a purpose which will be explained below.

Overlying the strut is a tubular raceway 26 having a slot 27 along its lower side for receiving end 24 of strut 2li. The forward end Z8 of the raceway rests against the bottom of the sole plate, while the rear end 29 may be partially collapsed, as indicated. The raceway is supported in any suitable manner as by bracket 30 spotwelded to the interior of the cover shell.

Freely mounted in raceway 26 is a ball 31 which is preferably made of heavy material such as steel or lead and which has a diameter slightly less than the interior diameter of tube 26. This ball constitutes a gravity actuated control means for holding the rest in collapsed position or releasing it for movement to its extended position.

Operation When the iron is in the horizontal or normal operative position, the parts are in the positions shown in Figure 1. That is, ball 31 is in the lower end of tube 26, and rests in part against end 24 of the strut ,t0 hold the rest in its fully retracted position slightly above the lower surface of the sole plate. The operator may move the iron freely backward or forward, or lift the iron above the board without releasing strut 29. lt is not even necessary to hold the iron in a horizontal position when lifting it, or it is quite apparent that the iron ,can 'be tilted forwardly and backwardly to a Considerable angle without disturbing the position of control ball 3l.

Should the operator desire to support the iron in an inclined rest position, it is merely necessary to tilt the iron backwardly about the rear corner of ,cover plate 41S. As soon as the iron is tilted to a predetermined or critical angle-that is when surface `25 of the strut is inclined rearwardly in the opposite direction-.ball 3l will 4quickly roll to rear end 29 of the raceway. Since the rear end of strut 20 is considerable heavier than the forward end,

-of pivot pin 22.

the strut will immediately pivot clockwise by gravity action into the approximate position shown in Figure 2. The slight'sound made by the ball as it rolls along the raceway informs the operator that the rest has pivoted downward whereupon she tilts the iron forwardlyfonto strut 20. Y

Note that when the iron is in the inclined rest posi- V tion, the forward edge of the strut abuts the forward end of slot 21, which prevents further clockwise movement ofthe strut so that the sole p'late is firmly and securely supported in an inclined position above the ironing surface where it Vmay be left safely until the user desires to resume ironing. Note that when the iron is in its rest position, the rear half of raceway 26 is inclined slightly downwardly to the rear. As a consequence, ball 31 remains in the rear end of the raceway and out of contact with the strut.

To collapse the rest and resume ironing the operator vmerely grasps the handle and pushes the iron forwardly Second embodiment The second embodiment is generally similar to that described above, and differs primarily in that the race- .wayV for the ball is formed integrally with the collapsible rest. Accordingly, the Vsame or similar elements` are indicated by the same reference characters distinguished by a prime. Y

As clearly shown, strut 26 is carried by pivot pin 22 in the forward end of slot'21. Forward end 24' of the strut is bent to forma tubular raceway 26 for control ball Ydisplace the ball, and it is effective to hold the rest rmly .in place.

In this connection it would be understood that the weight of the ball is somewhat greaterrthan required to hold the rest in its collapsed position.

Operation Y' The second embodiment operates similarly to the arrangement illustrated in Figures l and 3. Thus, normally, the rest and the control ballare positioned to hold the rest collapsed. In this position, the user can move the iron freely in all directions as well as lift it fromrthe board without unlocking the rest. However, should she desire to support the iron with the sole plate off the ironing board, she merely tilts fthe iron backwardly about the real end ofthe cover shell until ball 31 rolls backwardly in raceway 262Y This causes Vthe rest to pivot in a clocltl wise direction, whereupon the iron may be lowered untill the end Vof the rest contacts the ironing board.

L Retraction of the rest isr accomplished merely by pushing the iron forwardly causing the rest to pivot counterclockwise andl ball 31 to roll back into the forward end Y of the raceway to lock the rest in its collapsed position.

It will be appreciated that the inclination of raceway 26 determines the angle at which the -rest is automatically extended. This angle may be varied over a considerable range to suit the convenience of the user. In general, the inclination of the raceway when the iron is in a horizontal position is slightly lessthan the angle to which the iron must be tilted to release therest. Obviously,

, Y 4 the greater the inclination of the raceway, the greater is the stability of the rest in the retracted position, and the less likelihood there is that the ball will become displaced during the ironing operation.

From the foregoing, it will be manifest that the present invention provides an exceedingly simple structure which is easily incorporated in existing iron designs. Moreover, the device functions automatically to extend a rest for the sole plate when one is desired, and to collapse the rest within the confines of the iron body when not needed. The rest is controlled by the simple expedient of tilting the iron to a predetermined angle to release a gravity responsive supporting strut and immediately allowing it to drop back onto this strut wherein it is supported in its inclined rest position. The retrac tion and securing of the rest are equally simple and involves merely pushing the iron forward.

As will be readily appreciated, the invention can be practiced by various arrangements of the essential parts other than those specifically described above. For example, the single strut shown might be replaced by a double strut operating in a pair of slots in the sole plate. As Va matter of fact, the rest will operate equally as well if supported to either side of the sole plate. Also a roller can be substituted for the ball. These and other variations will be understood as falling within the scope of the invention as dened by the following claims.

l claim:

l. In combination, an electric sad iron having an electrically heated sole plate, a cover shell mounted thereon, support means projecting beyond the rear end of said sole p'late and terminating slightly above the lower surface thereof, a gravity actuated strut pivoted to said iron movable between a collapsed position above the lower surface of said sole plate and an extended position in which it cooperates with said rear support means to support the sole plate in an inclined rest position entirely removed from an ironing surface, and gravity actuated control means for said strut adjacent the inner, forward end thereof including a rolling member movable independently of said strut between a first position in which said member holds said strut in said Vcollapsed position and a second position in which said strut is free to pivot by gravity action to said extended position, and means forming an inclined raceway for said rolling member arranged to have its position relative to the horizontal reversed when said iron is tilted rearwardly beyondra predetermined angle.

2. The combination with for supporting said iron in an inclined position of rest with said sole plate removed from a supporting surface, said means including a strut pivoted to said iron so as to swing through a restricted arc longitudinally thereof, said pivot being located forwardly of the Vcenter of gravity ofsaid strut, a counter-weight movable independentlyV of said strut, means supporting said counter-weight for movement across the forward, lighter end of said strut between a first position in which it holds said strut in a retracted position above the lower surfacerof said sole plate and a second position in which said Vstrut is free to pivot to an extended position to support the iron in said inclined position.

3. In combination, a sad iron having a sole' plate, a cover shell and an operating handle, of automatic, gravity actuated means for supporting said iron in an Yinclined position of rest with said sole plate out of contact with a supporting surface, said means including strut means pivoted to said sole plate to swing longitudinally thereof, said pivot being located forwardly of the center of gravity of said strut whereby therear end thereof pivots downwardly when the toe of theV iron is tilted upwardly, means providing a raceway for a rolling weight, the Vforward endof said raceway overlying the Yforward end of Said Strut when it isin collapsed position, andra circular a sad iron having a sole plate, f Va cover shell and an operating handle, of collapsible means weight in said raceway operable to hold said strut collapsed in the forward position thereof and movable to a position thereon out of contact with said strut to release the same when the toe of said iron is tilted upwardly beyond a predetermined angle whereby said released strut pivots downwardly to support the iron in an inclined position as the operator lowers the iron from said predetermined angular position.

4. In combination, sole plate for a sad iron having an opening therethrough in the central, forward portion thereof, a strut member extending through said opening, pivot means for said strut extending crosswise of said sole plate, means forming an upwardly and rearwardly inclined raceway for a rolling member on the forward end of said strut, and a rolling member in said raceway, the arrangement being such that said rolling member is operable to counter-balance and hold the strut in retracted position when the member is at the forward end of said raceway and to rotate said strut to the extended position thereof to support said iron in an inclined position when said iron is tilted rearwardly until said rolling member moves to the opposite end of said raceway.

5. The combination with a sad iron having a sole plate, a cover shell and an operating handle, of an independently movable two part automatic rest for supporting said sole plate in an inclined position when not in use, said rest comprising an elongated member pivoted to said sole plate between the ends thereof, said pivot being located in an opening through said sole plate near the toe thereof and having its lower side lying substantially ush with said sole plate when collapsed, means limiting downward pivotal movement of said member when it reaches a position substantially normal to the sole plate, means forming an upwardly and rearwardly inclined raceway for rolling member overlying the inner end of said member when said member is in said collapsed position, a rolling member in said raceway normally located in the lower end of said raceway to hold said member collapsed, said rolling member being movable along said raceway to release said member for downward pivotal movement when the toe of said iron is tilted upwardly until the inclination of said raceway with respect to the horizontal is reversed.

6. The combination with a sad iron having a sole plate with a toe at its forward end and a heel at its rear end, a cover shell for said sole plate extending rearwardly beyond said heel and including support means for the rear end of said iron when the front end thereof it tilted upwardly thereonto, an loperating handle for said iron secured to the upper side of said cover shell, of an automatically extendable rest for supporting said iron in an inclined position with said sole plate out of contact with the ironing surface comprising a single strut pivotably supported in a slot extending parallel to the longitudinal center line and located forwardly of the center of gravity of said iron, said strut being counterbalanced to pivot downwardly below the surface of said sole plate when the toe of said plate is inclined upwardly, means for normally holding said strut retracted above the surface of said sole plate comprising a raceway extending upwardly and rearwardly and having its lower end located forwardly of the pivot support for said strut and opposite the forward end thereof when the same is retracted, and a ball counter-weight adapted to roll back and forth on said raceway as the toe of said iron is tilted upwardly and downwardly and from a position in which said ball counter-balances and holds said strut in its retracted position to another position in which said strut is free to pivot downwardly to its extended position in which said strut cooperates with the rearward extension of said cover shell to support said iron in an elevated position.

7. The combination with a sad iron having a sole plate provided with a toe and a heel at the opposite ends thereof, a cover shell for said sole plate projecting rearwardly of said heel and providing a support for the heel end of said sole plate when the iron is tilted backwardly thereonto, an operating handle on the upper side of said cover shell, of an automatically extendable rest for supporting the toe end of said iron when the same is not in use comprising a strut pivotally supported in a slot near the forward end of said iron, said strut being pivotable through an arc of approximately 90 between a retracted position above the lower surface of said sole plate and an extended position therebelow wherein it cooperates with the rear end of said cover shell in supporting said iron in an inclined position with the soleplate out of contact with the ironing surface, saidV strut being counter-balanced when in said retracted position to pivot downwardly toward said extended position, and control means for holding said strut retracted including a heavy ball which is freely movable with respect to the inner forward end of said strut when the same is retracted, and means forming an upwardly and rearwardly inclined raceway for said ball whereby when said iron is tilted rearwardly beyond a predetermined angle said ball rolls along said raceway and releases said strut so that the same pivots to the extended position thereof to support the iron in said inclined position of rest.

8. A sad iron as defined in claim 7 wherein the lower end of said race-way is positioned at a relatively steep angle to the vertical in the normal operating position of the iron so that sudden reversals in the backward and forward motions of the iron are substantially ineffective in displacing said ball from its position of rest whereby said ball holds said strut fully retracted until said iron is tilted rearwardly to an angle extending said steep angle of the lower end of said race-way whereupon said ball rolls to the upper rear portion of said race-way and releases said strut for pivotal movement to the extended position thereof.

9. The combination with a sad iron having a sole plate, a cover shell and an operating handle secured together; of rest means for supporting said iron in an inclined position with the sole plate out of Contact with an ironing surface comprising, two gravity responsive members, means movably supporting each of said members on said iron for movement between a rst position in which one of said gravity responsive members is retracted and a second position in which said one of said gravity responsive members is extended to support the iron in said lnclined position, one of said gravity responsive members and the supporting means therefor comprising a strut pivotally mounted in an opening through said sole plate on an axis extending crosswise thereof at a point odset from the center of gravity of said strut, the other of said gravity responsive members normally abutting said strut at a point relative to its center of gravity and to its pivotal mounting operative to hold the strut in the retracted position thereof so long as said iron is not tilted beyond a predetermined angle from its normal ironing position and being movable by gravity when said iron is tilted beyond said predetermined angle to a position wherein said strut is free to pivot by gravity to the extended position thereof for supporting the iron in said inclined position.

l0. The combination with a sad iron having a sole plate, a cover shell and an operating handle secured together; of automatic gravity actuated rest means for supporting said iron in an inclined position with said sole plate out of contact with an ironing surface, said rest means comprising a strut member, means pivotally supporting said strut for movement about an axis oset from the center of gravity thereof between a retracted position above the surface of said sole plate and an extended iron supporting position therebelow, means for normally holding said strut member in said retracted position, said holding means including a gravity responsive member and means for movably supporting the same on said iron for movement independently of said strut through a limited path from a position engaging the strut when theV strut is retracted at a point relative to its center of gravity and to its pivotal support and operative to hold the strut retracted while the iron is held in an ironing position, said holding means being movable by gravity kaction out of said engagement with said strut when the iron is'tilted to a predetermined angle away from the normal ironing position thereof to release the strut and permit the same to pivot by gravity action to the extended inclined iron supporting position thereof.

11. The combination with a sad iron having a sole plate, a cover shell and an operating handle secured together; of collapsible: means for supporting said iron in an inclined position of rest with said sole plate removed from a supporting surface, said means including a strut pivoted to said iron so as to swing through a restricted arc longitudinally thereof about an axis oiset from the center ofY gravity ofV said strut and between a retracted position above the ironing surface of said sole plate and an extended iron supporting position below said sole plate, gravity responsive control means movable independently of Ysaid strut, means supporting said control means for movement across the lighter vend of'said strut between a first position in which it holds said strut in the retracted position thereof above the lower surface of said sole plate and a second position in which said strut is free to pivot by gravity to said extended position to support the iron in said inclined position, said control means and the supporting means therefor being so arranged that said `control means occupies said first position While said iron is in a normal ironing position and moves by gravity action to said second position when said iron is tilted through a predetermined angle away from said ironing position.

12. In combination, a sad iron having a sole plate, a

cover shell and an operating handle secured together, automatically extendable rest means for supporting said iron in an inclined position comprising, a strut pivotally supported in an opening extending lengthwise of said sole plate for movement through a restricted arc about an axis.

offset from the center of gravity of said strut, said restricted arc including aV retracted position of said strut Within the contines of said iron and an extended iron supporting position thereof, gravity actuated means movably supported on said iron and engageable with said struttat a point relative to its center of gravity and to its pivotal support and operative to lock the same in said retracted position while the iron is in its normal operating position, said gravity actuated locking means being movable out of said locking engagement with said strut by gravity action in response to the tilting of said iron beyond Y a predetermined angle with respect to the normal operating position of the iron to release said strut for gravity movement to the extended iron supporting position thereof.

13. In combination, a sad iron having a sole plate,a cover shell and an operating handle secured-together, said sole plate having an elongated opening extending there` through, a strut member pivotally supported in said tion, means for movably supporting said locking means from said cover shell and in such a position that gravity acts on said locking means to hold the same in engagement with said retracted strut while the iron is in a normal ironing position, and said locking means being movable by gravity action out of engagement with said strut'iu response to the tilting of said iron beyond a predetermined angle with respect to said normal ironing position to permit the strut to move to the extended iron supportt ing position thereof by gravity action.

14. The combination with a sad iron having a sole plate and an operating handle; of collapsible gravityl controlled rest means for supporting said iron in an inclined rest position with said sole plate out of contact with an yironing surface when not in use comprising, an

elongated strut, means for pivotally supporting said strut V on said sole plate for movement between Va retracted position above the surface of the sole plate and an extended iron supporting position below said sole plate, means on said `strut forming a guideway for a captive weight, said guideway extending -lengthwise of said strut and transversely of the axis of the pivotal supporting means therefor, said weight being movable by gravity to one end of said guideway as said strut is pivoted to said retracted position and beingV operative when near said one end of the guideway to counterbalance said strut toward the retracted position thereof, and said Weight being movable by gravity to the opposite end of said guideway when said iron is tilted in a direction to reverse the inclination of said guideway with respect to a hori- Y zontal plane and being operable when near said opposite end of the guideway to counterbalance said strut toward the extended iron supporting position'thereof.

References Cited inthe tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

